Four ways you can get help with your energy bills this Spring – including the Household Support Fund and cash grants

SKY high energy bills are behind us for now, but there’s still help on offer if you’re struggling to make payments.

The average household is currently paying £1,690 per year for gas and electricity, down from a peak of £2,500 in January 2023.

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Most families will be less reliant on their central heating over the warmer months too.

But even still, there are plenty of households struggling with the cost of living, including energy bills, which are still high compared to 2021.

Recent research from Citizens Advice revealed 5.3million people were living in a household in debt to its supplier.

It also found 800,000 prepayment meter customers went more than 24 hours without gas or electricity in 2023 because they couldn’t afford to top up.

But if you are struggling to pay for your energy bills, luckily there is support on offer.

From the recently-extended Household Support Fund, to energy firm grants, here’s all the help you can get this Spring.

Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was first introduced in October 2021 and has been extended five times.

The latest round of funding is worth £421million to councils in England.

The fund is shared between local councils across the country who then distribute it as they see fit.

But because each region has been allocated a different share of the fund, what you can get depends on where you live.

Who qualifies is a postcode lottery too, as each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.

However, if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, are classed as vulnerable or are on benefits, you will likely qualify for help.

The HSF was recently extended in the Government’s Spring Budget until September and some councils have already opened for applications.

For example, Medway Council in Kent, South-East England, is offering thousands of households supermarket vouchers worth up to £225.

Some could qualify for electronic energy cards or e-vouchers to cover water bills worth £100 too.

You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.

You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.

You can use benefits to pay for energy bills

If you’re struggling to pay for energy bills, you might be able to use your benefit entitlement to cover their cost.

It is sometimes called “third party deductions” or Fuel Direct if it is for gas and electricity payments.

You can go through Fuel Direct if you are on one of five benefits, including Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

A fixed amount is deducted from your benefits until you’ve paid off any outstanding energy debt.

Those on Universal Credit will have 5% deducted from their benefit payments, for example.

So, if you receive £300 a month, £15 would be deducted.

You can set up deductions from your gas and electricity bill by contacting your supplier and giving your consent over the phone.

Energy firm hardship funds

A number of energy firms offer struggling customers grants to cover the cost of bills.

The British Gas Energy Trust is currently offering customers grants worth between £250 and £2,000.

The scheme is closing on April 19 though.

EDF is also offering customers in hardship who have received help from a money advice service grants, with no set limit.

Octopus Energy can also offer you help if you are one of its customers through its Octo Assist Fund.

Ovo Energy, Shell Energy, Scottish Power and Utilita Energy all have their own dedicated funds to help struggling households too.

Eligibility criteria varies between all the suppliers, so you should get in touch with yours to see what help is on offer.

For example, Scottish Power’s Hardship Fund is only open to those on Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit or Employment and Support Allowance.

Free insulation and boiler grants

You may be able to get grants or major discounts for installing insulation or boilers in your home.

Not only will you get money off the installations, it could see your energy bills fall too, meaning you’ll make ongoing savings.

For example, the Energy Company Obligation, set up by Government, lets households on certain benefits apply to have energy-saving measures installed in their homes.

It might mean cavity wall or loft insulation, or maybe even a new boiler fitted, sometimes for free.

Households’ needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis, so there’s no guarantee you’ll get help, but it is worth looking into.

The Government recently told The Sun it anticipates helping hundreds of thousands of households through the scheme by 2026.

You might be able to get help having insulation installed via the Government’s Great British Insulation Scheme too.

It launched in September last year and is open to households in council tax bands A-E across England, Wales and Scotland.

You also must have an energy performance certificate rating of D or lower.

If you qualify, you could be in line for essential upgrades to your home including roof, loft or cavity wall insulation – which could cut your annual energy bill by up to £400.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk